GO GEORGE has announced the re-opening of the Smart Card kiosk at the Transport Hub in Cradock Street this morning, Friday 17 April 2020. This follows closure of all info and Smart Card kiosks at the time of going into lockdown, to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
It has been noted in the meantime that quite a number of passengers do not have Smart Cards yet, and that there are areas in town where none of the businesses that serve as top-up vendors fall within the essential services category that is allowed to be open during lockdown. With the extension of the lockdown period, it was decided to support passengers by offering this service during certain times of the day.
To protect passengers as much as bus drivers and cashiers in the office, exchanging of cash on the buses needs to be minimised. Passengers are advised to obtain Smart Cards as a matter of urgency if they do not already have one.
Business hours
Passengers who need to travel for essential purposes during lockdown are encouraged to visit the kiosk at the Hub to buy Smart Cards and to top up with trips if they do not have a top-up vendor close by. Top-up vendors do not sell cards. The kiosk will be open daily from 05:00 until 10:00, and 15:00 until 19:00 to link up with the operating hours of the reduced bus service, according to Government regulations that public transport facilities may not be open outside of the set times. Strict safety and hygiene measures will be implemented.
Cost of Smart Card
Your first Smart Card (registered to your name) will cost only R21, including two pre-loaded trips. For this special promotion, you will have to show your ID, passport, driver’s licence or birth certificate to ensure that only one card at this price is issued per person.
People may register cards for other individuals, for example, family members or employees, providing they bring along valid ID documents and register a card for each.
If you do not have any official proof of identity, you can still buy an unregistered card at the normal price of R25, with no pre-loaded trips, for as many people as you like.
Saving on transport cost
You can save up to R150 per month if you use the Smart Card rather than buying on the bus. When you top up with 10 trips or more, the cost per trip is R9.50. If you buy less than 10 trips per transaction, the cost per trip is R10, but if you buy your trip with cash on the bus, the cost is R13 – R3.50 more than the cheapest offer.
COVID-19 safety measures
Passengers are requested to keep basic COVID-19 safety measures in mind when visiting the Smart Card kiosk. Please respect fellow passengers by keeping the required social distance of 1,5 metres when waiting to be served. Sanitise your hands after handling cash and cough or sneeze into your arm. When using your Smart Card on the bus, do not let anybody else handle your card and tear off the receipt yourself.
Public transport remains a high-risk environment for the spreading of the disease and should only be used as a last resort if no alternative arrangements can be made.